March 30, 2015: I Corinthians 15:1-11

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

I Corinthians 15:1-11

Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, ²through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, ⁴and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

Reflection: 

Sometimes, we just want to skip over Holy week and get to Easter.  Sometimes, we don't even journey through the wilderness of Lent.  In fact, we live in the Easter moment.  We just want to celebrate.  Sing Alleluia! Christ has risen indeed! What joy! There is no wonder why we wouldn't want to celebrate and be in that joyous state!  However, when we skip over everything and go straight to Easter, we are missing out.  This scripture reminds us that Christ dying for our sins was not in vain.  Somehow, if we celebrate the resurrection of Christ without the remembering of the crucifixion; we are missing that moment where God says I love you so much, I will sacrifice my son for you.  Take time to live God's grace. Experience the Last Supper, experience God's sacrifice for us, and mostly, experience this Holy week like you never have before.  

Reflection Questions:

Morning: When have you connected to Holy week?

Noon: What are your emotions when you think of the crucifixion? 

Evening: How can you share with others this good news?

Prayer: Holy one, we sometimes take Your sacrifice in vain. Help us to live in this Holy week. Fill us with Your spirit that we may know and understand the love and forgiveness we receive from You.  Let us remember the mystery and awe of this week. Amen.